RismadarVoice Reporters
January 23, 2026
President of the Paediatricians Association of Nigeria (PAN), Dr Ekanem Ekure, has criticised the 4.3 per cent allocation to health in the 2026 national budget, warning that it reflects a troubling lack of investment in the well-being and future of Nigerian children.
Dr Ekure also demanded comprehensive remediation and medical intervention for victims of the Ogijo lead poisoning crisis linked to recycled battery factories in Ogun State, noting that the majority of those affected are children. She called for stronger regulatory enforcement and coordinated national action to safeguard vulnerable children.
The appeal was made on Thursday during the opening ceremony of PAN’s 57th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference in Abeokuta, themed: “Achieving SDG-3 and Child Health Care through Innovative Funding Models and Technology-Driven Solutions.”
Highlighting Nigeria’s ongoing child health challenges, Dr Ekure said the country continues to bear a disproportionate burden of preventable childhood illnesses, with neonatal and under-five mortality rates of 41 and 110 per 1,000 live births, respectively.
She also pointed to persistent malnutrition, suboptimal immunisation coverage, and inequitable access to quality child health services.
Dr Ekure said, “While we appreciate the shutdown of offending factories in Ogijo, comprehensive remediation, medical intervention, and coordinated national action remain our demand. Protecting vulnerable children is a moral imperative.”
She also raised concerns over child abuse and abductions, particularly in northern Nigeria, stressing that these challenges are compounded by poverty, conflict, climate change, and emerging health threats.
Dr Ekure noted that Nigeria’s national child health policies align with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG-3), which aims to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all, especially ending preventable deaths of children under five.
However, she lamented that the country remains off track in achieving these targets.
Criticizing the 2026 health budget allocation, she said: “Allocating only 4.3 per cent to health, far below the 15 per cent target of the Abuja Declaration, reflects poor prioritisation of child health. Innovative funding models, such as public-private partnerships, blended financing, and outcome-based funding linked to verified results, are urgently needed.”
Dr Ekure also advocated the use of technology to improve immunisation tracking, disease surveillance, and access through telemedicine and digital platforms. She urged the Federal and State governments to treat child health as a national development priority, stressing that adequate investment in child health is cost-effective for social and economic development.
